This falls in line with my experience with DC and Warner. You as the artist are
not allowed to sell reproductions or prints online. An NFT is a reproduction of
the original art, and in Neal’s case he’s even animated them which is creating
a wholly new image to accompany the NFT. That in and of itself is also a no-no.
For those that think they are not challenging their copyright, I can assure you
they monitor this stuff all the time. When someone tries to sell a print on CAF
of a DC character, DC’s attorneys will contact the host of CAF and tell them I
have to remove the item(s) for sale, or my host is legally bound to shut CAF
off. It’s happened 6 or 7 times. So those who think DC and Marvel don’t care
about protecting their positions, you’re definitely mistaken. So i wouldn’t be
surprised if DC does the same thing to the host of Neal’s items as well. I
believe they are outside the US so they might thumb their noses at them, but I
can’t see how they don’t do the same thing.
Bill
On May 2, 2021, at 8:37 AM, Tony Isabella <tonyisabella@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Just to add to this fascinating conversation...
After I signed my most recent agreement with DC Comics, I also got an
agreement in writing that I could produce posters (limited to 100 per item)
featuring Black Lightning and other DC characters. DC wasn't charging me
anything for this agreement, but they did have some conditions beyond
limiting the posters to 100. I could not team up DC characters with
characters from other companies. I could not sell the posters online.
Initially, when I requested this agreement, DC Comics said I didn't need an
agreement. That I could just make and sell posters and prints like so many
other creators and artists (some who have never worked in the comics
industry) were doing. I asked for an agreement anyway.
Because trusting DC Comics is always problematic. Seeing the great lengths
they have gone to over the years to deny credit and proper compensation to
creators like Siegel and Shuster, I could easily envision a situation where I
piss them off in some way and they issue a cease and desist. Leaving me with
dozens and even hundreds of posters that were now little more than useless
paper.
Do I have trust issues? Yes, I do...and it's because of my past and present
dealings with DC Comics.
I will readily admit that DC honors the letter of my latest agreement with
them. I'll give them that.
So I applaud Neal Adams on this. He has always been in the forefront of
fighting for creators and all of us in the comics industry have benefited
from that.
Tony Isabella
